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Rear Seat Interior/Reading Light Units: In
each C pillar trim panel is an interior/reading light
unit.
These units each contain an interior light that is
controlled with the front interior light and a
mechanically switched reading light on the con-
sumer cut off circuit.
Front Footwell Lights: In each front footwell,
there is also a courtesy light. These lights are
only operated when the GM provides power to
the interior lighting circuit.
On E38 and E53 the doors also contain courtesy
lights at the lower edge of the door panel (1).
Door Warning Lights (E38): The additional
“red” warning lights are installed in the edge of
the doors (2). These lights are illuminated when
the doors are opened.
Illuminated Transmission Shift Indicator
(E38): The E38 uses a microprocessor for dis-
playing the shifter position in the center console.
The processor receives shift position signals
from a console mounted range switch. The
processor illuminates the LED corresponding to
the position of the range selector.
The park position LED will remain “on” after the
ignition is switched off and stay on until the GM
goes into the “sleep” mode.
Soft Lighting Feature: The GM provides progressive voltage (up to 12v) providing the soft
on feature
to the interior lighting circuit when the interior lights are required. The GM grad-
ually reduces the full 12 volt power supply providing soft off
when interior light deactivation
is required.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Park
Position
LED
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Visual Entry Aid (E38/E53)
Purpose of the System
The E38 (>99 MY) and E53 is equipped with the “Visual Entry Aid” lighting system which
enhances operator convenience and safety. All interior door handles are supplemented with
soft glow lighting for ease of locating the interior door handles. When activated, the exteri-
or door lighting illuminates providing a subtle underglow for the exterior door handles on
the E38 and exterior rear view mirrors on the E53.
• The interior door handle lighting(including later E53) is provided by slim profile LEDs
and controlled directly by the LCM III.
• The exterior door handle lightingis provided by halogen bulb light sources in each
door and fiber optic tubing. The light sources are controlled by a Visual Entry Aid Control
Module which activates the lights simultaneously when the GM III activates the vehicle
interior lights.
System Components
Interior Door Handle Lighting: The light-
ing is provided by orange glow light strips
illuminated by LED’s.
• The light strips are part of the door han-
dle shell and are not replaceable.
• The LED’s are individually replaceable.
The LED’s are connected to the KL 58g interior panel lighting circuit. KL 58g is an output
pulse width modulated control signal from the LCM III. The duty cycle changes when the
LCM III detects a change in the voltage drop at the light dimmer input signal.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
Replacement LED
“Orange Glow”
Light Strip
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Page 56 of 80
Exterior Door Handle Lighting: The Visual
Entry Aid Control Module is located in the elec-
trical carrier forward of the glovebox.
To control the system, the Visual Entry Aid con-
trol module requires:
• KL 30
• KL 15
• KL 31
• Interior Light control signal (GM Output)
The GM controls the soft on/off feature of the vehicle interior lights by a pulse width mod-
ulated control signal. This signal is also an input to the Visual Entry Aid control module
which requests simultaneously control (soft on/off) each exterior door light source.
Light Source Modules: Mounted in each door
are the light source modules.
The light source modules are made up of the
housing, halogen bulb and reflector. The reflec-
tor holds the bulb and focus the bulbs light into
the housing.
The bulbs are are available for individual replace-
ment.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
CONTROL MODULE
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Fiber Optic Light Conductor Cable:The fiber optic cables carry the light to their respec-
tive light output modules at each exterior door handle.
Installation Note:The bending radius of the fiber optic cable should be less than 20mm
when installing.
Light Output Modules: The exterior door handle frames have an additional mount to
accept the light output module.
The light output modules carry the light from the conductor cables to the exterior door han-
dle recess as well as casting a soft exterior light on the outside floor area.
Principle of Operation
Lights ON:
The exterior visual entry aid lighting is activated “on” when the vehicle interior
lights are activated “on” automatically by the GM.
Lights OFF:
Immediately after KL 15 recognition (immediate off - no soft off function). Soft
off after a short delay once all doors are closed.
After a maximum of 20 seconds “on” time, the control module switches exterior visual entry
aid lighting off regardless of interior light status.
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Page 75 of 80

General Functions of ZKE III
Consumer Cut Off
The Consumer Cut Off function interrupts battery voltage to circuits preventing inadvertent
battery drain if one of these consumers were to remain activated. Circuits controlled by
consumer cut off will be switched off as the GM enters into the sleep mode.
For example, the interior lights are connected to the consumer cut out circuit (KL 30) and
can remain on if one of the control switches are left on. The consumer cut off will deacti-
vate KL 30 to the interior lighting after 16 minutes (or with the DISplus/MoDIC).
The following circuits are con-
trolled by consumer cut off:
• Map/Reading Lights
• Glove Box/Luggage Compart-
ment Lights
• Transmission Range Indicator
Light
• Overload Protection Relay for
- Power Seat Motors
- Steering Column Motors
Overload Protection
The seat and steering column motors receive
operating power through the consumer cutoff/
overload protection relay module. The consumer
cutoff signal from the GM signals the relay to
maintain operating power to the consumers.
If the relay module detects an increase in amper-
age (overload) the relay will open. The relay mod-
ule (K-72) is located in the electrical carrier
behind the glove box. The relay is reset by
switching the ignition “off” for 16 minutes, dis-
connecting the relay or the DISplus/ MoDIC.
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Central Body Electronics ZKE III
E38 Shown
Overload
Protection Relay
Module